• Blue cohosh and black cohosh are two herbs that work synergistically to bring on labor, but do not use them prior to 39 weeks of pregnancy.
  
• Raspberry leaf (tea or tincture) is one of the best uterine tonic herbs to prepare uterine muscles for an efficient labor. Its astringent action slows bleeding and helps to expel the placenta. Have the tea on hand or make raspberry tea ice cubes to suck on during labor.  It can also be taken in pregnancy to prepare uterine muscles for pregnancy.

Many herbs can help ease the pain of contractions:

• Crampbark tincture can be used for uterine cramping during labor, and after birth to eliminate after birth cramping pains.
• Scullcap and catnip relieve pain, as well as calm and relax the body.
• Chamomile helps control pain during labor by relieving tension.

Other herbs help with emotional balance during labor:

• Rescue Remedy, a Bach flower remedy, is excellent for bringing one quickly into focus when under stress or shock during a difficult labor. It can also be put on the baby’s forehead or wrist after a stressful birth.
• A massage oil, enhanced with herbs, will relax the muscles and ease back labor pain. Use relaxing, aromatic herbs such as chamomile, rose, and lavender. Rubbed on the perineum, it helps prevent tearing as the baby crowns and ease swelling and burning.
• Essential oils in a mister can give clarity and focus. Clary Sage gives a sense of well being and combats mental fatigue. During birth it helps focus breathing and calm anxiety. Geranium essential oil balances emotions and works well for perineal massage, as it stimulates circulation. Lavender is calming and strengthening, relieving depression and irritability. Citrus essential oils are clean, refreshing and uplifting. Be sure that essential oils are used in a carrier oil or mister and not applied directly to or on the skin.
• Shepherd’s Purse tincture is the best herb to quickly stop postpartum hemorrhaging. Every midwife should have it with her in case an emergency situation arises.  (You can read about how Motherlove founder Kathryn Higgins used this herb after her daughter’s birth here.)
• After the birth, use a sitz bath to soak the perineum, heal any tears, shrink swelling, and slow bleeding. It helps the perineum to heal quickly, and makes walking more comfortable. Herbs to use include yarrow, uva ursi, witch hazel, Shepherd’s Purse, and garlic.
• Fill a plastic squirt bottle with a strong herbal tea of these herbs – or use our sitz bath spray – to squirt on your perineum as you urinate to lessen any burning and heal tears.
• Homeopathic arnica pills, taken every few hours for several days after the birth, help reduce bruising and swelling of the perineal tissue. Be sure you are taking arnica internally only in homeopathic form, as arnica tincture prevents clotting and should not be taken internally.

See our Plants page for photos and more detailed information on several of these herbs.

* This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.  Please consult with your health care provider for medical advice related to any of these products. 

But first, what does this plant have to do with witches?  It’s likely an etymological mix-up, stemming from the Middle English term “wiche,” which means pliant or bendable and has nothing to do with witches.  Or perhaps the use of the branches of the plant as divining rods is related the name.

Witch hazel is a shrub or small tree growing in the rich soils of the eastern part of the United States.  The star shaped leaves become brilliant colors in the fall while the round fruits, which have projections, shoot their seeds several feet as they ripen.

Witch hazel leaves and bark contain astringent tannins which stop internal and external bleeding. Both the bark and leaves are used to treat hemorrhoids, varicose veins, swelling and bruises, and sore nipples. Internally it stops diarrhea, vaginal discharge and excess menses. Witch hazel is an ingredient found in eye drops and many skin ointments. It was used widely by Native Americans for medicinal purposes.

And of course it’s used widely after childbirth to soothe sore perineal muscles, reduce swelling, slow bleeding, and help ease the discomfort of hemorrhoids.  Used in a bath, as a spray directly on tissues or on a pad, or as a balm on hemorrhoids, it’s an effective herbal remedy recommended by moms and doctors alike.

Witch Hazel is a key ingredient in our Rhoid Balm, Sitz Bath, Sitzbath Spray, and Sitz Bath Concentrate.

Image credit:  Wikimedia Commons

You’ll want to listen to our latest podcast on Maya Abdominal Therapy.

Tanya spoke with Catherine Gregory, a certified practitioner of the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy.  She explained the origins of the therapy, how it can help women for anything from infertility, to painful menstruation, to incontinence and digestion.  She explained what it’s like to have the therapy, how women can learn to do it for themselves, and how to find a certified practitioner.

You can listen to the podcast with the player below, with Quicktime, or by downloading it from our free iTunes store.

Millions of women experience stress incontinence after having a baby.  And millions more will develop incontinence as they age.  But there’s a lot you can do about it, and our podcast discussion this month is all about that.

Tanya spoke with Tasha Mulligan, physical therapist and personal trainer, and creator of the Hab-It: Pelvic Floor DVD.  She’s passionate about helping women like herself rehab their pelvic floors and reverse stress incontinence.

They spoke about how the pelvic floor is related to incontinence, how to properly do Kegels, how rehabbing your pelvic floor is about much more than Kegels, and answered lots of your questions!

You can listen to this interview with the player below, listen with Quicktime, or download the podcast at our free iTunes store!

A new book does a nice job of clarifying these concepts and describing how to use them to make breastfeeding easy and comfortable.

Baby-Led Breastfeeding, by the authors of Baby-Led Weaning (see our podcast with author Gilll Rapley on this method of introducing solid foods), is a new breastfeeding reference book based on the newest understanding of our babies’ oldest behaviors.

Baby-led breastfeeding is about understanding and following a baby’s innate feeding instincts.  It means working with – and not against – these instincts to make breastfeeding easier and more comfortable for you both.

Some feeding instincts the authors describe include:

“[At birth,] drawn by the unique scent produced by the glands around your nipples (which is similar to the smell of your amniotic fluid), your baby will instinctively press her feet and knees into you and push herself toward your breast.  This instinct fades gradually in the first few weeks.”

“When they are near the breast, babies bob their head around and use their hands in a kneading action to orientate themselves and figure out how to best approach the nipple.  This behavior is a crucial part of the feeding because it allows babies to get to the breast and position themselves so that they can attach easily.”

“When he can feel or smell that he is near the nipple, a baby will naturally start to open his mouth and stretch his tongue forward.  This is known as rooting, and it’s part of his preparation for scooping up the breast to feed.”

“[A lying back position] is the position that will make best use of your baby’s feeding instincts when he is new.”

Some early feeding cues: “moving his eyes under his eyelids; moving his head and stretching his neck; making gentle wriggling, squirming, and waving movements, clenching and unclenching his fists; opening his mouth and making rooting movements; making sucking noises or smacking his lips; murmuring, squeaking, whimpering, or giving little cries; sucking his fists/clothes/blanket or your t-shirt/sweater.”

These concepts are the most useful in establishing comfortable and effective attachment to the breast (latch) and breastfeeding positions.  But they’re also very useful in solving breastfeeding problems, such as refusal to breastfeed, weaning from a nipple shield, and transitioning from bottle to breast.

For more information on Biological Nurturing (Laid Back Breastfeeding) and Baby Led Weaning, see our podcasts:

• Biological Nurturing (Laid Back Breastfeeding), with Suzanne Colson
• Baby Led Weaning (solids), with Gill Rapley

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed and anxious about the many responsibilities of having a newborn.  Feelings of fatigue, crying, insomnia, anger, feelings of being alone, and the inability to concentrate are all typical of the “Baby Blues.”   They’re usually short-lived, lasting for a few weeks.

But if these or other bad feelings continue, or are more severe at any point after having a baby, you may have a postpartum mood or anxiety disorder, and it’s important to seek help from your health care provider.

Not sure if what you’re experiencing is the  Baby Blues or something more serious?  See Postpartum Support International’s screening tools.  And see our interview with the co-founder of Motherwoman for more on the postpartum emotional spectrum and where to turn for help.

Which herbs and supplements can help?

There are many ways to treat postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, including therapy, support groups, medications (see our podcast on anti-depressants and breastfeeding), rest, acupuncture, nutrition, help with domestic responsibilities, socializing with family and friends, and exercise.  In this post we’ll focus on herbals and supplements to combat these disorders.

Herbs:   Note:  If you are taking an anti-depressant or other prescription medications, be sure to discuss herbal use with your physician to prevent interactions.

• Vitex helps stimulate progesterone production and balance the hormonal cycle.
• Motherwort and lemon balm can help with mood swings and emotional balance.
• Scullcap, oats, and chamomile are tonic herbs for nerves and stress.
• St. John’s wort (discuss with your physician about interactions with other medications)
• A Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner may be able to recommend additional herbs.

Supplements:

• Omega 3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish oil, reduce inflammation and have been shown effective at preventing and treating depression.  See Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett’s resources for brands and dosages.
• Vitamin D or light therapy.  See our podcast on Vitamin D and breastfeeding.
• Calcium and magnesium
• Folic acid through diet or in a vitamin

Aromatherapy: The smell of clary sage, sandalwood, and citrus uplifts the spirits, so use these essences in a massage oil, bath, or sleep pillow. Put drops on a handkerchief to sniff throughout the day. Aromatherapy inhalers and spritzers are available at natural food stores.

Bach Flower Essences:

• Gorse for discouragement and despondency
• Mustard for deep gloom for no reason
• Sweet Chestnut for mental anguish, hopeless despair, sorrow, exhaustion, loneliness

Additional Resources:  Please see Postpartum Support International’s resource page for a list of additional sources of support, and this handout from Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett for a list of non-medication treatments.

This information is provided for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.  Please see your health care provider for medical care suited to your needs.

We asked Marianne Bullock of the Prison Birth Project to answer a few questions about what the experience is like in her area of the country.  The Prison Birth Project provides prenatal, labor and postpartum support to women who are incarcerated in Western Massachusetts.  Policies regarding pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding can vary by state and facility.

How common is it that a woman gives birth while serving a prison sentence?

The percentage of women in prison who are pregnant is about the same as in our general population, so anywhere from 6-10%. The average sentence of a woman in Massachusetts is 18 months, so most of those women will give birth while incarcerated. In our facility the family counselor does work really hard to help get women out before they deliver, so often times we are lucky to be able to serve clients who are back home with their families and support them in having the birth they envisioned for themselves and their baby.

In your area, where do these mothers give birth?  What is particularly challenging for them? 

The mothers we work with give birth in the hospital. There are many obstacles and tough situations.  One of the most prevalent things is that women are transported with handcuffs to the hospital in labor and in the postpartum period are often transported in 5 point restraints, sometimes only 24 hours after delivery.

I think the most challenging thing that I am witness to as a doula is mothers having to hand off care of their children so they can return to the facility. It’s never an easy transition, but it is a situation that we work really hard with our clients to prepare for in order to make it the least traumatic as possible. Most of the time that looks like taking a lot of time to listen and plan out what will feel the safest for the mom during that transition and in the days following.

Are mothers who want to breastfeed or provide breastmilk for their babies able to do so in your area?

Breastfeeding is actually one of our biggest areas of success. A few years ago we had our first mama who wanted to breastfeed.  We put a call out and the breastfeeding coalition donated a hospital grade pump to the organization. We got it cleared with the jail and trained the staff in how to operate it.  Since then we have had a number of women choose to breastfeed and a few chose long term breastmilk for their children (one even for 9 months!). It has been amazing.  Even though women only have one hour a week to visit when they can breastfeed skin to skin, it has meant so much for bonding and some women’s ability to overcome a feeling of loss of parental control.

What does the Prison Birth Project do?

Unlike her other recent books, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth and Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding, this latest book isn’t a practical guide for moms but a policy statement which spells out her recommendations for changing our maternity care system.  It also includes a history of obstetrics/midwifery care, explores sexuality and birth, and discusses feminism and birth, among other topics.  And as with her previous books it’s spiced with captivating birth stories from her many years of practice.

But the heart of the book is a call for women to come together to fix the ways in which our maternity care system is broken.  Gaskin details these problems with U.S. maternity care:

A rising maternal mortality rate (near tripling in California between 1996 and 2006), which doubles the risk of mortality for mothers birthing today compared to their mothers.  This increase is occurring despite despite the fact that the U.S. spends more on maternity care per capita than any mother country in the world.

A flawed mortality reporting system which, according to the CDC, could mask a rate up to three times what is currently reported.  This lack of reliable data leaves the system poorly equipped to make changes necessary to lower the rate.

High rates of unnecessary induction and other interventions in labor and birth, leaving mothers unable to labor and birth normally, and leading to poor outcomes.

The highest recorded cesarean rates, which far exceed recommended levels for safety of mothers and infants.

Here are her recommendations for reform, presented in detail in Birth Matters:

Establish woman-centered maternity care (including midwifery care) as a human right.

Revise medical education to train doctors in the support of normal birth before they study related pathologies.

Establish maternity care standards to ensure evidence-based practice for all women.

Salary physicians instead of paying them based on the number of births they take on.

Make birth centers available to mothers in all parts of the U.S..

Ensure that every maternal death is accurately reported and reviewed.

Give consideration to the young mothers who give birth without knowing they were pregnant.

Recognize postpartum home as a necessity, to avoid preventable outcomes ranging from mortality to postpartum depression.

What do you think of Ina May Gaskin’s recommendations?  What would you add or subtract?  How have the problems she outlines affected you?

Several herbs used safely used by women for generations are an excellent source for the increased vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy, and to prepare your the uterus for labor.

These herbs can easily be made into teas and incorporated into meals on a regular basis. Every person is different, and your body may react differently now to foods than it did previously, but used wisely and in moderation, these herbs make wonderful teas and foods.

• Raspberry leaf is best known for strengthening the uterine muscles so they work more efficiently during labor. Drink raspberry leaf tea, with its easily assimilated content of calcium and magnesium, to relieve leg cramps. Also high in iron, the leaves and berries help prevent anemia. Raspberry leaf soothes an upset stomach and will help alleviate mild morning sickness. Taken after birth, it slows bleeding, helps the uterus regain tone, and increases breast milk production.

• Nettle leaves are a storehouse of nutrition, with high iron and calcium contents, as well as an excellent source of folic acid, an essential nutrient during pregnancy. Nettle strengthens the kidneys and adrenals, while it relieves fluid retention. Because nettle also supports the vascular system, it can prevent varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Postpartum, it increases breast milk production. Nettle tea has a rich, green taste and can be mixed with other herbs. Cooked nettle is a mineral-rich substitute for spinach and an excellent side dish with a dash of lemon juice and sesame seeds. Try substituting nettle in lasagna. Pick it fresh from spring until mid summer, but be sure to wear gloves to protect your skin. Its nickname is “stinging nettle,” but this sting disappears when cooked. Pick extra to freeze and have on hand for the winter months.

• Oats, another herb high in calcium and magnesium, builds healthy bones and nourishes the nervous system. This is the perfect herb to relieve nervous exhaustion and allow for relaxed rest when sleep is difficult. An easy way to incorporate the healing power of oats, and its high fiber content, is to eat oatmeal cereal in the morning, along with oatmeal bread. Oatstraw tea has a mild flavor that can be used alone or mixed with other herbs. And a warm oatmeal bath is not only relaxing, it softens skin and relieves the itch of a growing belly.

• Dandelion root tea increases digestion and promotes bile to relieve constipation. It is one of the best herbs for cleansing and strengthening the liver, our main detoxifying organ. The liver breaks down hormones no longer needed by the body after birth, and any drugs that may have been given at birth. Containing calcium and iron, roasted dandelion root’s coffee-like flavor, is an excellent morning beverage. Add a handful of the fresh leaves, high in vitamin A, to other greens in salads. Drink dandelion leaf tea if a diuretic is needed to relieve fluid retention. Because of its high potassium content, it does not deplete the body of this important mineral, as other diuretics are known to do.

• Alfalfa, with its deep root system, contains many essential nutrients including trace minerals, chlorophyll and vitamin K, a nutrient necessary for blood clotting. Many midwives advise drinking mild tasting alfalfa tea or taking alfalfa tablets during the last trimester of pregnancy to decrease postpartum bleeding or chance of hemorrhaging. Alfalfa also increases breast milk production – alfalfa hay is fed daily to milking goats and other dairy animals!

These common herbs are available in most natural health food stores and are well-worth using for their nutritionally-packed support during these special months.

This information is provided for educational, and not medical, purposes.  Consult your health care provider for advice tailored to your needs.

We’re very happy to share an interview with massage therapist and trainer Lisa Gallauresi, LMT on partner massage for pregnancy and labor.

Lisa is a massage therapist, parent educator and trainer.  She has been an instructor at massage schools, developed curricula for hospitals and training centers, and consulted on prenatal bodywork for large spas including Kripalu Yoga Center.  Her training includes newborn and infant massage, and she is a certified prenatal specialist.  

If after reading Lisa’s answers you’re sold on the benefits of partner massage for pregnancy and labor, check out Motherlove’s Birth and Baby Oil!  It’s gentle enough for both mothers and babies, and has a zero toxin rating.

What are some benefits of having a partner massage a mom during pregnancy and labor?

The benefits of partner massage during pregnancy and labor can be physically and psychologically profound for the mother and her partner.  When I teach a partner massage class I provide general tools for relaxation and bonding.  We address the most common discomforts of pregnancy and create an environment that facilitates spoken and unspoken physical communication.  If a person has specific structural issues or preexisting conditions they need to see a qualified massage therapist or physical therapist.

We know that the positive effects of massage in general are greater if administered by her partner.  This is in part due to the emotional connection and support that is inherent in the massage.  Women experience a decrease in the level of stress hormones, deeper and longer sleep patterns, reduced soreness and pain in muscles and joints, decreased anxiety and less postpartum depression.  Partners feel empowered to provide hands on comfort as well as emotional support.  Familial adjustments are easier and self-confidence in parenting skills are buoyed.  Laboring women feel more  attachment with partners and therefore react with more self-assurance and a heightened belief in their ability to cope.  The perception of labor outcomes are more positive for both parents when massage is administered.

What are typically moms’ favorite areas to be massaged during pregnancy and labor?

During a typical pregnancy, most women enjoy massage to the low back, shoulders and between the shoulder blades, although you can never go wrong with a nice foot massage! During labor, the intention of the massage shifts.  In early labor women may enjoy massage around the jaw and the scalp, lots of kisses and encouraging words.  As she shifts into a deeper labor space to prepare for the second stage, she usually does not like light touch.  Massage includes deep and sustained pressure to the sacrum and low back with limited talking and focused awareness.

Can you describe some easy massage techniques for pregnancy and another one for labor?

Partner massage tools for pregnancy are more about intention than technique.  Loving, focused, hands on time with little or no distraction is a way to connect and be present with each other.  Creating space to mentally and spiritually witness each other as partners in a journey creates a strong family foundation to build upon.  You do not need special tables or tools to do this massage.  Mom can sit on a stool, chair or birth ball that is facing a table, counter or bed at the correct height.  She can lean forward with several pillows in front and lean forward.  She may need a bunch of pillows to get comfortable.  It is best if the table is against a wall so it remains stable.

The partner can take a quarter sized amount of lotion or oil and stand behind her in an open and relaxed stance, feet in a lunge position bending at the knees.  Starting slowly and lightly at the nape of the neck he/she can create a diamond shape with open and relaxed hands by going out along the shoulders and down to the mid back where the bra line would be.  Warming up the tissue and gradually getting deeper they can “pick up” the tissue at the top of the shoulders and knead it until it softens like dough.  Let mom tell you what feels good and follow her directive.  Learning what relaxes her is useful information for labor.

During labor, if mom wants to be touched, deep sustained pressure to the sacrum and top of the buttocks is welcomed.  A tennis ball is a useful massage tool for long hours of labor massage.  Rub the ball along the low back and use it to provide counter pressure in the sacral area.  The hands and feet can be reached easily in most labor situations and it feels nice to have a firm foot or hand massage.

Are there some areas to stay away from during pregnancy and labor?

Every pregnancy is unique, so parents need to talk to their health care provider for any contraindications to massage.  A licensed massage therapist that specializes in prenatal work can offer private tutorials with specific guidelines that consider adaptations for each couple.  In partner massage we do not do leg work because it is specialized.  Women should not lie flat on their backs after 13 weeks and should not receive massage while lying on their stomachs.   The general rule of thumb in a typical pregnancy is that if it feels good, go for it!

Partner massage is a hands on tool that allows couples the opportunity to bond and communicate.  Pregnancy and labor is perceived more positively if mom feels supported and cared for.  Many partners want concrete tools to show support and therefore feel as if they are participating in the process.  Learning to listen and support a new mother is a skill that I hope will translate into the postpartum period and provide a strong family foundation for years to come!

Desiree and Tanya talked about the history of VBAC, barriers and access to VBAC, and how to prepare for one.  We also discussed ICAN’s research about hospital VBAC bans, and the 2010 National Institutes of Health statement on VBAC.

You can listen to this podcast using the player below, using Quicktime, or by downloading it at Motherlove’s iTunes store.

Mayim is best known for her roles as Blossom Russo on the ’90′s sitcom Blossom, as a young Bette Midler in Beaches, and currently as Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory.  She received a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA in 2007.

But did you know that Mayim is also lactation educator and spokesperson for the Holistic Moms Network?  Her new book, Beyond the Sling: A real-life guide to raising confident, loving children the attachment parenting way is out this week.

She talked with Tanya Lieberman about the intersection of her life as a scientist and as a mother, how breastfeeding figured into her parenting experience, why attachment parenting appeals to a broad spectrum of faiths, why her husband initially thought that elimination communication was a ridiculous idea, and how she straddles the worlds of Hollywood and parenting.

You can listen to the interview using the player below, with Quicktime, or by downloading it from Motherlove’s free iTunes store.

What is a Baby Friendly Hospital?

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a program sponsored by the World Health Organization and UNICEF to encourage and recognize hospitals that provide evidence-based breastfeeding care.

A Baby Friendly Hospital is one which has been certified as fully complying with the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.  To become Baby Friendly, hospitals undergo a lengthy certification process and an independent evaluation to determine that they have met all of the Baby Friendly criteria.

What are the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding?

To become Baby Friendly, hospitals must demonstrate that they comply with the following evidence-based policies:

1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within an hour of birth.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed, and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.
6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming-in – that is, allow mothers and infants to remain together – 24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers to breastfeeding infants.
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic

What difference does it make if I birth at a Baby Friendly Hospital or somewhere else?

Research has repeatedly shown that mothers who birth at Baby Friendly hospitals are more likely to breastfeed, breastfeed longer, and breastfeed more exclusively. That’s because the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are based on research showing which policies support – and which undermine – breastfeeding.  So, while it’s certainly possible to breastfeed successfully if you don’t birth at a Baby Friendly Hospital, you will probably encounter far fewer barriers to meeting your breastfeeding goals if you birth at one.

How can I find a Baby Friendly Hospital near me?

As of December, 2011, there were 125 Baby Friendly Hospitals in the U.S.  You can find a complete list of them here.

Many hospitals are in the process of becoming Baby Friendly, and the Centers for Disease Control recently announced that they’ll be supporting the certification of many more.  Kaiser Permanente also recently announced an initiative to make many of their hospitals Baby Friendly.

What can I do if I don’t live near a Baby Friendly Hospital, or my insurance limits my options?

Sadly, many mothers don’t live near a Baby Friendly hospital.  The CDC estimates that only 5% of all births occurs at a Baby Friendly Hospital today.  And the unfortunate truth is that most hospitals don’t meet the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.  In 2009, for example, only one in three hospitals reported to the CDC that they practicing rooming in (Step 7).

This is changing, but if you’re pregnant now you can’t exactly wait!  So what can you do if you can’t birth at a Baby Friendly Hospital but want the best breastfeeding care you can get?

1. You can write a breastfeeding-friendly birth plan, based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, and discuss with your providers your wishes for a birth and newborn period that supports your intention to breastfeed.  If you’re planning to birth at home, you can discuss these same issues with your providers.
2. You can request your area hospitals’ mPINC scores.  One relatively unknown fact is that all hospitals report their compliance with the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding to the CDC.  The CDC compiles this information and gives each hospital a score, known as the mPINC score.  Hospitals do not have to disclose their performance to the public, but mothers are free to request it from their local hospitals if they wish.  This information, if you can get it, could be useful in evaluating how breastfeeding-friendly your birth options are.
3. And if you’re feeling ambitious, you can launch a community campaign, as these mothers did, to push your local hospitals to become Baby Friendly!

Vicki talked with Tanya Lieberman about common themes in birth on TV and in movies, the worst and best (and wierdest!) depictions of birth, and recent trends in reality TV and homemade birth videos on the web.  They discussed the depictions of partners in media births, and the influence that media births have on mothers’ perceptions and fears about childbirth.  You can see some of the clips we discussed in the trailer below.

You can listen to this podcast using the player below, listen online with Quicktime, or download it from Motherlove’s free iTunes store!

Video example of TV Birth

Cold compresses.  Many moms use ice packs to reduce swelling and soothe pain in the early hours after birth.  Be sure to wrap cold packs in a soft cloth or other soft material so that the cold pack doesn’t directly touch your tissues. Some moms wet and freeze their pads to create convenient cold compresses.

Sitz baths.  Warm water, especially when infused with healing herbs, can do wonders for tender tissues.  You can make a sitz bath in a bathtub or with a basin that fits over your toilet seat (in the hospital, ask your nurse for help with this).  Added to your bath, our Sitz Bath and Sitz Bath Concentrate soothe sore perineal muscles, reduce swelling, slow bleeding, and help ease the discomfort of hemorrhoids.  Our Sitz Bath Spray can be sprayed directly on your perineum an offers the same relief.  All of our sitz bath products have a zero rating (zero toxins) on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database and are made with 100% certified organic ingredients.

Witch hazel.  Witch hazel is an herb which is soothing to sore, swollen tissue, and especially helpful with hemorrhoids.  You can buy witch hazel soaked pads.  You’ll also find witch hazel in our organic Rhoid Balm, which relieves swelling and itching during pregnancy and after birth, and in our sitz bath products.

Peri bottle.  Many moms who have had tears, stitches, or episiotomies find it soothing to spray their perineum (front to back) with warm water after or during urination.  Peri bottles make this easy.  It can be especially helpful to use a peri bottle while urinating if you have stinging pain when using the toilet.

Medications.  Your health care providers can discuss over the counter and prescription medication options that are safe for breastfeeding.  If you have additional questions about pain medications and breastfeeding, you can call the Infant Risk Center for free information from a knowledgeable and breastfeeding-friendly pharmacist.

* This post is not intended as medical advice.  For medical advice, seek the recommendations of your health care provider.

Did you know that some women go for years with pain and other complications from their c-section scars, when some simple exercises make a big difference?

Isa Herrera wishes that wishes that all mothers had great care after their c-sections.  She is a physical therapist and owner of Renew Physical Therapy in New York, where she specializes in caring for women’s gynecologic pain.  She is author of Ending Female Pain: A Woman’s Manual.

Isa spoke with Tanya Lieberman about how mothers can care for their c-section scars, reduce pain, and increase mobility.  They discussed scar massage and yoga poses, and other ways to help us recover.

You can listen to the interview using the player below, listen with Quicktime, or download it at Motherlove’s free iTunes store.

We’ve been hearing about it, and while we know it’s not for everyone, thought it would be interesting to learn more.  So we asked  Jodi Selander, founder of Placenta Benefits to answer some questions.

Jodi trains and certifies specialists who encapsulate placentas for consumption, based on a method she developed.  She is active in research on the placentophagy (placenta consumption) research team at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and has presented her findings at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association.  Jodi has also written and published several articles on the use of placenta for postpartum recovery.

The placenta can be prepared in many different ways. I subscribe to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine – placenta have been used for centuries in this manner, and I didn’t feel like I should mess with their system, since it is one of their most powerful medicines when prepared that way. This way also gives the capsules longevity; they can be frozen and kept for a long time, and definitely taken over the first several weeks postpartum, the time when many women struggle with the Baby Blues. However, some women just cut pieces out to put in smoothies or freeze; this does decrease the time in which it can be taken to the first 3 days after birth, to the first week or so. It can also be used as any other meat in a food dish – placenta spaghetti and the like. I’m just happy when a mother chooses to utilize the placenta, instead of throwing it in the trash! But the easiest way for me to take the placenta was in a capsule.

PBi-trained and Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialists are schooled in the Traditional Chinese Medicine method of preparation, which involves steaming the placenta prior to dehydration, eliminating any concerns over bacteria living on the placenta and being transferred to the capsules. Additionally, in TCM, cooked foods work differently in the body than raw foods, and placenta is meant to have warming properties (i.e., cooked).

There are so many wonderful traditions of honoring the placenta! In some cultures, the placenta is considered the spiritual twin of the baby, and is treated as such. Most cultural traditions involve burial or some sort of honorary memorial for it. I have written several articles on this topic – you can read one here.

That is the belief, but we have been unable to find it in written records. One of my research colleagues at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) performed a comprehensive survey of the anthropological literature related to cultural beliefs, rituals, and the placenta, and was unable to find any cultural-wide practices of human maternal placentophagy (where the mother consumes the placenta). Another researcher at UNLV has come up with an interesting theory as to why humans may have stopped eating placenta, and his paper will be published next year. So there is a lot of recent interest in this topic. Now, placenta have been used for centuries for a variety of treatments, but these are often related to male issues, interestingly enough; vitality, fertility, and the like. It has also been used in other cultures as a remedy for the baby or father. But it seems that women were giving up the placenta for use by others, not for herself. So the practice of mothers consuming it for postpartum is a recent phenomenon – we started seeing references to it in the 1970′s.

I have trained many wonderful women in the art of placenta encapsulation through the Placenta Benefits Placenta Encapsulation Training Course. These Placenta Encapsulation Specialists reside all across the United States and Canada, and we also have Specialists in the UK, South Korea, and Australia. You can find one in your area here.

If she births in a hospital, the first step is to ask to take it home! The more that hospitals get this request, the more likely they are to adapt mother- and placenta-friendly policies. Many couples bury the placenta and plant a special tree or shrub over it. If you don’t live in an area that would accommodate that, the placenta can still be lovingly prepared and dried (even in an oven). Then it can be ground, and the granules can be scattered in an area that is special and sacred to you.

Music to give you an extra “push:”

• Five Finger Death Punch
• Aerosmith (“The nurses said it sounded like I was having a party in my room.”)
• Faith of the Heart (theme from Star Trek: Enterprise)
• Credence Clearwater Revival
• Steppenwolf
• U2
• Goo Goo Dolls
• Country music
• Salt n’ Pepa (Push It!)
• Bob Marley
• Phish
• The Police
• Umphrey’s McGee
• Band of Horses
• Fleet foxes
• Damien Marley
• Jason Mraz
• And a number of you said “80′s music” (“Baby was born to Don’t Stop Believing and Jump!“)

Calming music:

• Mozart
• Vivaldi
• Ocean sounds
• Hawaiian-style instrumentals
• What a Wonderful World/Somewhere Over The Rainbow
• Classical guitar
• Tchaikovsky
• Meditation music/nature sounds
• Pandora “Michael Hedges” music channel, and “Ludovico Einaudi” music channel
• The Reiki Hands of Light CD
• Praise Baby CDs
• Opera

Some of you provided your own accompaniment!

• “Only the music of my own voice.  I ‘Ommed’ through the whole 7 hours. My husband tells me ‘You can hold a note.’”
• “Nothing except the music of me hollerin!!”
• “I loved listening to my baby’s heartbeat. It calmed me down.”

And then some of you said you didn’t want music (“I liked it quiet”), or had no time for it (“I almost had him in the car!”).

True help – the kind that allows you to relax and enjoy the season while caring for your baby – can sometimes be a little hard to come by.  Here are our suggestions for a few simple things your family and friends can do to really help this holiday season.

Feed you, so you can feed the baby.  Well meaning family and friends often want to feed babies, and you can’t blame them.  But if you’re breastfeeding this can be a bit complicated.  Do you spend precious time pumping so your mother-in-law can get her feeding fix?  And what if your baby doesn’t like bottles?  The solution:  Let your relatives satisfy their urge to nourish by making sure that you’re well fed.  While nursing, ask people to bring you plates of whatever yummy thing is out of reach, and as well as a something good to drink.

Encourage you to respect your limits.  Chances are you’re up all hours of the night with your baby, so the last thing you need is to get to bed late.  And gatherings can take a lot out of you, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.  So ask your family and friends to excuse you early from gatherings.

Give plenty of “late passes.”  As you know, it takes at least twice as long to get somewhere when you have a baby as when you don’t (who hasn’t discovered a poopy diaper right as they were headed out the door?).  Family and friends can be especially patient when moms take longer to leave and arrive.  And if they’re traveling with you, they should expect many pit stops.

Give you a break from cooking and cleaning duty.  This one should go without saying, but in case you have the urge to get in there and help with cooking and cleaning, your family should be prepared to steer you back to a comfortable chair.  There will be plenty of other occasions in future years when you can pitch in.

Hold the baby – if you want.  Some moms relish a few moments without a babe in arms, and for others this is a bit distressing.  So be clear with your family about how you feel about this.  There will be no shortage of volunteers to hold your baby if that’s what you want.

Take pictures and video of you with your family.  This may sound silly, but chances are you’re always the one behind the camera.  Family and friends can help by taking pictures with you in the frame, for a change.  So hand over the camera.

We at Motherlove wish you a lovely holiday season! 

Pushed shines a bright light on the state of maternity care in the U.S., from record-high induction and cesarean rates, to the legal obstacles to midwifery.  Whether you’re expecting a baby or want to advocate for change, you’ll want to read this book.

Tanya Lieberman spoke with Jennifer about the ways in which moms are ‘pushed’ or denied care, the projection that the cesarean rate will hit 50%, recent changes in recommendations for VBAC, and what mothers can do to avoid getting ‘pushed.’

You can listen to the podcast with the player below, listen with Quicktime, or download the podcast from our free iTunes store.

Mothering the Mother is a Milwaukee non-profit organization that believes that all women should have access to quality birth professionals, regardless of their situation.  They offer a variety of classes, doulas, lactation support, and mentors.  All services are based upon on a sliding scale depending on the individual family’s circumstances.

Birth Behind Bars is a Florida non-profit organization which assists pregnant inmates by providing childbirth classes, doula support, breastfeeding support, and parenting education.  Their website quotes an officer in the jail system:  “The inmate broke the law and has to serve out their sentence.  The baby did not break any laws and deserves to have the right start in life.”

The Delaware Breastfeeding Bag Project‘s goal is to get truly breastfeeding-friendly bags into the hands of every new mother who gives birth in Delaware.  Mothers are often given ”breastfeeding bags” supplied by formula companies at the hospital or in doctors’ offices.  These bags have been shown by multiple studies to reduce breastfeeding rates.  The Delaware Breastfeeding Bag Project donates about 600 bags a year to new moms.

Shower of Hope, Oklahoma was founded by Toni Keltner to provide support to a family who lost two children in the May 24, 2011 Oklahoma tornadoes.  Shower of Hope has since grown to provide support to other families in need after the tornadoes and other natural disasters.

Holistic Moms Network connects parents who are interested in holistic health and green living.  Their online community and local chapters “encourage moms to trust their instincts, parent from the heart, use their innate sense of what is best for their children, live in balance with the Earth, and learn about the pros and cons of all healthcare and parenting options.”

Union Gospel Mission of Salem‘s mission is to help men and women break the cycle of homelessness and become participating members of the community.  They provide meals and shelter, recovery programs, education and job readiness support, and affordable housing help.

But the list of reasons to wait until at least 39 weeks of a healthy pregnancy to have your baby is long and powerful, too.

In recent years the trend toward earlier scheduled inductions and cesarean sections has resulted in the average pregnancy getting shorter.  Some facts from the  California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative:

• There are now more babies born at 39 weeks than at full term.
• The average time a fetus spends in the womb has fallen seven days since 1992.
• Between 1990 and 2006, the number of babies born at 36 weeks increased by about 30 percent, and babies born at 37 and 38 weeks rose more than 40 percent.
• In 2007, 9.6 percent of births were early – through scheduled inductions or C-sections – for non-medical reasons.
• Deliveries at 37 and 38 weeks account for about 17.5 percent of total births in the United States.

Having a baby early for no medical reason (known as an early elective birth), can pose a number of risks to your baby, including:

• Increased NICU admissions
• Increased respiratory distress syndrome
• Increased ventilator support
• Increased suspected or proven sepsis
• Increased newborn feeding problems [breastfeeding] and other transition issues

In response to this troubling trend, the March of Dimes has launched a campaign to reduce births before 39 weeks called Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait™.   And recently, hospitals have started instituting a policy of no elective births before 39 weeks.  This summer, all 17  Portland, Oregon area hospitals instituted policy banning non-medically necessary births before 39 weeks.

Some of this increase is driven by mothers’ preferences, but there is little question that some of the trend is a result of pressure from health care providers.  Choosing your OB or midwife carefully can help you avoid an early elective birth.  But if you find yourself being pressured into an early birth for no medical reason, the March of Dimes recommends asking:

• Is there a problem with my health or the health of my baby that may make me need to have my baby early?
• Can I wait to have my baby until I’m closer to 39 weeks?
• Why do you need to induce labor?
• How will you induce labor?
• Will inducing labor increase the chance that I’ll need to have a c-section?

We would also recommend sharing this Toolkit, aimed at helping providers reduce early elective births, from the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative.   Finally, while mothers are sometimes reluctant to do it, it’s also often possible to change providers, even late in pregnancy, in order to avoid an early elective birth.

We’re very pleased to share an interview with Stephanie Casemore, author of Breastfeeding, Take Two:  Successful Breastfeeding the Second Time Around.*  This book is written for mothers who had a difficult breastfeeding experience with a first baby and are looking ahead to a new breastfeeding experience with a new baby.

What were your breastfeeding experiences like with your first and second babies?

My breastfeeding experiences were vastly different and yet they are closely connected. The birth experience played largely into each as well.

My first baby, my son, was born at 31 weeks gestation after I developed pre-eclampsia and was hospitalized at 30 weeks. His birth was an induction and was a very clinical experience. I was separated from him immediately and didn’t get to see him for another sixteen hours. I began using a breast pump soon after delivery to initiate my milk supply and am thankful for the good advice I received from the hospital staff about pumping.

I started breastfeeding attempts a week or so after my son was born, but soon breastfeeding too became very clinical with pre and post weights being expected and a nipple shield introduced. After five weeks in the NICU, two of those with me living in a care-by-parent unit caring for my son 24 hours a day, I finally introduced a bottle in order to be allowed to bring my son home (he had to be taking all his feeds by mouth). Breastfeeding was getting no easier and in fact my son had now started to cry and flail at the breast and, soon after he arrived home, started to projectile vomit. I was stressed, overwhelmed, and lost.

Life became a cycle of attempted (and often rejected) breastfeeding, bottle feeding expressed milk, and then pumping. Shortly after he reached his due date, I decided that I would continue to pump exclusively and feed my milk by bottle. I had asked many people for advice and help, but it never helped. I was told by two different professionals that it was okay to just feed formula, but that wasn’t what I wanted, and not the advice I needed. After five months of asking for help and seeing multiple medical professionals, I finally was told to try an over the counter medication for reflux and my son’s feeding behaviour changed overnight. Had I got that information and help months earlier, would I have been able to breastfeed my son? I’ll never know. By that point I was well into the routine of exclusively pumping—and continued pumping for a year—and my son was receiving all breast milk with no supplementation needed. But the lost breastfeeding relationship was difficult to accept.

Three years later I became pregnant with my second child, my daughter. When I first found out I was pregnant, my first thought was about breastfeeding: would I be able to breastfeed this child?

I had a great deal more information than I had with my first and knew going in that the birth experience affected initial breastfeeding, so I did everything I could to protect that early breastfeeding experience with my daughter. It wasn’t always easy, but I was determined. My daughter was born at about 37 weeks and her birth was quick and normal. She nursed within the first half hour following her birth and I kept her with me—in my bed most of the time—while we were in the hospital. She gained weight well and was above her birth weight by six days of age.

By all accounts, things were going well. But I didn’t believe it.

I kept waiting for something to go wrong.

The emotions and fears and worries of my experience with my son started to pop up and it was difficult to separate the two experiences. Any time my daughter cried inconsolably, any time she didn’t nurse well, or any time I became a bit engorged, I worried that breastfeeding wasn’t going to work out. I had to learn to trust my abilities, my body, and my baby. My daughter and I had some ups and downs, but we persisted and just kept going. I was amazed when we hit six months and thought a year seemed a long way off. Once we hit one year, I couldn’t imagine stopping. Breastfeeding became an easy way to mother and an easy way to connect with my daughter when she needed closeness. She self-weaned when she was three years and two months old after declaring she didn’t “need” to nurse any more. It was a bittersweet moment.

You write that there is no such thing as ‘breastfeeding failure.’ How do you instead view difficult breastfeeding experiences?

Our world is consumed with the idea of evaluation and measurement. Everything—even breastfeeding—seems to be evaluated and held to certain standards. But the concepts of “success” and “failure” when it comes to breastfeeding, which is at its core a relationship, are arbitrary measurements.

What constitutes “failure” when it comes to breastfeeding? And who determines what failure looks like?

There are certain guidelines in place, but even those are arbitrary and often adjusted. Success might look very different for a mother of a preemie or a mother of twins or a teen mother or a mother who must return to work full-time shortly after the birth of her child. Failure then too, is very hard to define. For these reasons, I would much prefer to look at breastfeeding in terms of simply “did” or “did not”.

Failure is also a perspective. Thomas Edison is quoted as saying “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Everything for him was a learning experience, and I think for women, breastfeeding—regardless of whether they “failed” or not—can be a learning experience. It’s all in the perspective of how you look at your experience. With my son, I did feel as though I failed him for a very long time, but then I realized that my experience strengthened me in many ways and in the end has been a very positive thing. Do I wish I had been able to breastfeed him? Of course. But that is a feeling of regret, no longer a belief that I failed.

Difficult breastfeeding experiences are more a reflection of our society’s failure than a mother’s failure. Mothers, by and large, do everything they can to breastfeed their babies. Yet when accurate information and meaningful support isn’t accessible for every mother, mothers are going to do what they need to do in those circumstances to feed their children. I find no failure in that.

You say that what is often characterized as guilt over an unsuccessful breastfeeding experience is actually more accurately described as grief.  What’s the difference, and what does it mean for a mom contemplating another breastfeeding experience?

Guilt is an emotion that is felt when you do something you know you shouldn’t do or you don’t do something you know you should do. Almost every mother I’ve communicated with over the last several years did everything they could to breastfeed. “Everything” though is largely influenced by the information and support that they have access to.

So, if you were given poor advice to supplement with formula in the hospital and this negatively affected your milk supply and led to early weaning, should you feel guilty? In my opinion, no. Anger at the inaccurate information and lack of support is likely appropriate, but when a mother has tried to access information and support and that information and support has been faulty, lacking, or led to difficulties, guilt is misplaced. Many moms will say they feel guilty or that they “failed” at breastfeeding and while they may name the emotion as “guilt” I think grief is more often what is felt.

Our society often doesn’t recognize breastfeeding as a meaningful relationship, but it is—and it’s a biologically-expected relationship for both mom and baby. When breastfeeding doesn’t work out, there is a loss and that loss is often felt as grief. Just as with any other loss in life, we need to work through the grief.

If you push it to the periphery and don’t work through it, as often happens with a new mother who must “get on” with life and family and the care of her new baby, the grief remains, often to resurface with the expected arrival of a new baby and another opportunity to breastfeed. Working through the grief and loss of the first experience will help a woman move into a second breastfeeding relationship. Understanding breastfeeding as a relationship, more than merely a means to feed a baby, will lead to a better understanding of the loss that is felt when breastfeeding ends sooner than desired, and this recognition of the loss will help a woman recognize the grief that she may be feeling.

Can you list a few things moms can do to process a difficult prior breastfeeding experience, in preparation for a new nursing experience?

There are many things that can be helpful to process a difficult past breastfeeding experience. I’ll list some of these things below.

1. Acknowledge emotions that are still lingering from your first experience. Chances are as you move into your pregnancy many of these will start to surface on their own, and, over the first few weeks of your new baby’s life, you will likely have a surge of feelings that relate more to your past experience than the present.

2. Recognize everything you did do for your first baby and that breastfeeding relationship. It is more common for us to look at what we do wrong than what we do right. Chances are your baby is now a healthy, happy infant or toddler and that means you did something right! Give yourself credit where it is due. Not one of us is a perfect mother, but we all love our children.

3. Flip your thinking. Rather than seeing your experience as a negative, look at it as a positive. I think in most cases a challenging experience helps us to grow and learn, and become stronger and more committed. It might not have been the experience you wanted, but it was the experience you got, so accept it and consider how it made you better.

4. Talk about your experience. Find support from others who understand how emotional breastfeeding—and not breastfeeding—is and share your story. As you share, you will be working through the lingering emotions and preparing yourself for a breastfeeding relationship with your next baby.

5. Forgive. Part of processing the past experience is the need to forgive. Do you blame yourself? Do you blame others? At the risk of sounding like a twelve step program, it is important to forgive in order to move on.

6. Educate yourself. We can’t change our past, but we can grow from it. Learn about normal birth and breastfeeding and empower yourself. Figure out what you’ll do differently the next time around and use your past experience, as Edison did, to figure out what didn’t work and to make a plan for the next opportunity.

*We were provided with a review copy of this book.

Birth is a play based on over 100 interviews conducted by Karen Brody about their birth experiences.  Eight birth stories are told in the play, with the intent of showing how low-risk, educated mothers are giving birth in the U.S. today.  Birth is also intended to raise awareness and provide a springboard for advocacy to make maternity care mother-friendly.  This advocacy effort is called BOLD (Birth on Labor Day).

Birth is now celebrating its fifth year, and to celebrate, BOLD is broadcasting a free webcast of a reading of Birth during Labor Day week.  The first broadcast will be live on September 5th at 7 pm ET, and this performance will be rebroadcast several times a day on September 17th and 24th.  More information about the webcast is here.

Birth has been called “magnificent, funny, and wonderfully wise” by Dr. Christiane Northrup.  We hope that you enjoy it!

Tanya Lieberman, IBCLC talked with Jessica Wellborn, a graduate student who studied milk donation after perinatal loss.  She is the donor coordinator at the Mothers’ Milk Bank of San Jose.

Tanya and Jessica talked about the experience of lactation after mothers lose babies – either in pregnancy, at birth, or as infants – and the range of feelings and challenges it rasies.  This is a poorly recognized issue, and we’re happy to spread the word about it.

Tanya, in partnership with her local loss support group, also helped to prepare a brochure for mothers who have experience a loss, and we’re happy to share it here.

You can listen to this podcast with the player below, listen with Quicktime, or download it at our free iTunes store.

Having a doula (a trained support person for birth and the postpartum period) present during your labor and birth can make it a much more comfortable experience.  Doulas have long been associated with shorter labors, less interventions, fewer c-sections, and more positive birthing experiences.  They’re also great for breastfeeding support.

We asked Ananda Lowe, doula and co-author of The Doula Guide to Birth: Secrets Every Pregnant Woman Should Know, to share some comfort measures for labor, as well as some tips for finding a low-cost or free doula if you can’t afford to hire one.

What are some comfort measures that any mom can use in labor, whether or not she has a doula?

Studies show the most effective form of natural pain relief is to take a warm bath, and the rate of epidural use goes down when baths are used.  Stay in a long time, up to 90 minutes for the best effect.  Warm water provides relaxation by stimulating the skin on your entire body (like a water “massage”), increasing blood circulation, and reducing blood pressure and muscle tension.  A shower can provide similar effects.  However, only 10 percent of women report they used warm water in labor.  At one of our hospitals in Boston, there are no showers in the birthing rooms, so you have to walk down the hall to a shower room.  I remember standing in the hall while my client was showering, and another woman in labor walked by.  I told her there were two showers and she could use one.  She said, “No thanks, I don’t need a shower.”  I realized afterward that she thought I meant she could take a shower to get clean, but she had no idea it was a type of pain relief.

When a woman is having her first baby, I tell her to expect to be in labor overnight.  She might not experience it, but most likely labor will be long enough that she will.  Sleep is very important so she will have enough stamina to finish labor.  Believe it or not, a doula might inform a mother that a glass of wine is known to be a tocolytic, or labor-inhibiting agent.  It usually slows down labor for the few hours it takes to by metabolized by the body.  A woman can sleep a bit, and she will wake up in labor again.  (Doctors formerly gave alcohol to women by IV injection to stop premature labors.)  A mother can ask her doctor or midwife about the option of drinking a glass of wine at home.  Alternately, taking a warm bath for more than 90 minutes can have the same effect, due to the way the brain responds after a long period of immersion of the body.  Doulas believe that sleeping in labor is possible, and a very good idea!

Most doulas-in-training offer a reduced fee until they are certified.  A trainee has enough education in birth to be a valuable presence at a woman’s labor.  Contact the national doula organizations to find a trainee or an experienced doula, at www.cappa.net, www.dona.org, www.ictcmidwives.org, and www.tolabor.com.  Otherwise, ask a friend who had a positive birth experience or a natural childbirth to be at your birth.  Our culture thinks of birth as a private event between a woman and her mate, but hospitals are full of staff who are strangers.  In past eras, it was a woman’s experienced female friends who guided her through birth.  I strongly encourage women to bring a friend or two to their labor.  Birth is such an intense experience, and hospital procedures can seem so overwhelming, that it is probably asking too much of a pregnant woman and her mate to get through labor alone.

Our nipple cream can be used for many other purposes.  It’s safe and effective for many uses.  You can use it to:

• Pass on to a pregnant friend (or buy her a new jar!)

• Moisturize lips (all ingredients are safe for ingestion)

• Moisturize dry skin on elbows, knees and heels

• Heal minor cuts, scrapes, and burns

• Soothe insect bites or sunburn

• Soothe inflamed stretch marks (or try our Pregnant Belly Salve or Pregnant Belly Oil)

• Rub into dry cuticles or chapped skin

• Treat eczema (or try our Green Salve)

• Smooth down a bit of unruly hair

• Use on diaper rash (or try our Diaper Rash and Thrush Salve)

• If you use a nipple shield, put a little a little under the outside edges to hold it in place

• Put it on chapped nose and cheeks during the winter time cold season.

• And finally, Silencia at Motherlove says “I also have a lot of friends who use it to help heal tattoos.”

And please remember that our glass jars are fully recyclable and reusable. Use our jars to hold jewelry, a votive candle, or even your own homemade lip balm.

A blessingway may be just what you’re looking for.

We have some special blessingway photos to share with you from Motherlove founder and owner Kathryn Higgins!  She had her own blessingway and participated in other moms’ ceremonies.  Her wonderful photos are below.

Kathryn says:

“I believe that a blessingway is the best ‘baby shower’ you can give a mother.  I had blessingways for many of my friends when we lived up in the canyon.  There was a beautiful ceremonial spot in an upper meadow surrounded by rock outcroppings and wildflowers.  We had a perfect place for a throne.  We would gather around our friend and brush her hair with scented oil, adorn her head with a crown of flowers, and wash her feet with an herbal bath.  Our gifts were songs and poems, beads and prayers.  We laid our hands upon her belly, sending blessings and our love.”

To explain what a blessingway is and to hold one, we asked Barb Lucke, co-author of Mother Rising: The Blessingway Journey into Motherhood to answer a few questions:

How is a blessingway different from a baby shower?

The blessingway views the transition into motherhood as a rite of passage and one to be held in sacred ceremony.  Many cultures still honor mothering in this way.  However, in the United States and many of the first world  countries, the concern is less on preparing the mother internally for her role as a mother and more externally with things.  Somehow in our culture we have come to value obtained things for our baby as adequate preparation and have ignored the work of internal preparation.  Women who are choosing to include blessingways as part of their journey into motherhood are saying yes to also preparing internally for the task ahead of birthing and mothering.  They are encouraged to ponder what it means for them to become a mother, or a mother of two or three, and to identify their wants and goals for themselves and what might be in the way of reaching them.  Most often what is in the way is a belief or fear.  The blessing way is designed to help the mother identify these road blocks to having the birth she envisions as well as the road blocks that might be the way of becoming the mother she hopes to be.  These road blocks are minimized or in some cases removed through sacred ceremony.  She is filled back up with affirmations, pampering and the support she needs to reach her goals.  Gifts given during a blessingway are more symbolic versus store bought.

Photo by Kathryn Higgins

Why do you think it’s important to have a ritual to mark the passage into motherhood?

I believe all women need to journey within to mentally prepare for childbirth and mothering by identifying and excavating fears, judgements, and beliefs.  This mental preparation is as difficult as all of the work that goes into preparing to give birth physically, by going to prenatal visits, eating right, exercising taking your vitamins, etc.  It is important and often overlooked.  Women wonder why their birth plans or ideals for how they want to parent go flying so easily out the window.  The work is challenging and warrants the time and energy a sacred ceremony promises as well as the support and from other women.  There is some sort of magic that happens when you combine sacred ceremony with women coming together collectively to honor, witness and support another woman on her journey into motherhood.  The combination works.  If you just get a room full of women together and lack the sacred ceremony you will be missing a key piece to the recipe.  And vice versa, if you sit alone in your home and create a beautiful sacred ceremony without the energy power, and support of other women, you will also not obtain the optimal results.

What are the major parts of a blessingway?

On page 25 of Mother Rising we map out elements recommended  in a blessingway or sacred ceremony and feel it is really best to start there.   I will also sum it up for you in my own words:

Photo by Kathryn Higgins